Romelu Lukaku has been ruled out, while Timo Werner and Mateo Kovacic should start when Chelsea take on Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
Chelsea will be hoping to overturn a two-goal deficit and book a place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals when they travel to the Santiago Bernabeu to face Real Madrid in the quarter-final second leg fixture.
Chelsea have a few injury issues to cope with ahead of this gigantic clash. Romelu Lukaku has been ruled out with an ankle injury, while Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ben Chilwell are sidelined. In addition, Ross Barkley will also miss out due to illness. However, captain Cesar Azpilicueta is back in contention after recovering from coronavirus.
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“Romelu will not travel due to his pain in the Achilles that he has felt recently but Azpi is in the group. He has tested negative several times now and is okay to be part of the squad. Ross Barkley is sick, however, and will not travel with us later. That is the situation right now and everyone else is in the squad,” Tuchel confirmed in his pre-match presser.
Having stuck with a three-man backline in the 6-0 thrashing of Southampton at the weekend, Tuchel is expected to go in with a similar shape and personnel at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night. Edouard Mendy will be the man guarding the goal for Chelsea as usual, while Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and Thiago Silva form the three-man defensive unit.
Reece James and Marcos Alonso, who scored in the win against Southampton, ought to line up as the wing-backs on the right and left sides, respectively.
Moving into the middle of the park, no changes are likely as N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic should hold on to their places in the side, with Jorginho missing out. After a disappointing performance in the first leg, Kante will need to up his game.
Mason Mount, who produced a brilliant performance against Southampton, will line up in the No. 10 role and look to stitch play together in the final third for Chelsea. Kai Havertz has been in good touch of late for Chelsea and is a guaranteed starter. He is likely to be partnered with Timo Werner in attack after the German international put on a superlative display over the weekend.
Chelsea Predicted XI: Mendy; Christensen, Silva, Rudiger; James, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Mount; Havertz, Werner
